In the mobile satellite communications industry, the machine-to-machine (M2M) market is in the midst of a period of explosive growth, driven by the burgeoning demand for real-time connectivity and location-based services. Long perceived as a niche provider of narrowband voice and data services for relatively limited vertical markets, the industry is in the process of changing drastically. Mobile satellite service companies will become broad-based providers of mobile data services in tandem with terrestrial wireless networks. Mobile satellite service providers, who until now have counted their subscribers by the thousands, will be looking at an addressable market numbering in the millions, as the demand for always-connected devices increases.